EXPERIENCE

THE WICKED SIX

This is old school desert golf and Sunridge Canyon is the challenge, if you want to see me I’ll be at the 19th hole because the final Wicked 6 kicks my #%@”

— Gary McCord

Take the Challenge:

Six of the best Finishing Holes in Arizona(Made up of two Par 5's, two Par 4's and two Par 3's )

Most golf courses have a series of holes that are particularly noteworthy for their beauty and challenge, some even to the point that they begin to develop a mystique of their own. These holes represent a battle within the battle, the high-water mark of the round when it’s either sink or swim. Augusta National’s Amen Corner, PGA National’s Bear Trap and La Costa’s Longest Mile come to mind as examples of dastardly golf holes that have menaced golfers for generations. Somewhat less famous, but every bit as daunting, SunRidge Canyon Golf Club confronts golfers with a devilish half-dozen holes known as the Wicked 6.

Made up of two par 5s, two par 4s and two par 3s,all except the par 3s play uphill. It is this gradual, yet significant uphill climb that poses much of the challenge. Plus, the prevailing breeze tends to blow down the canyon into the golfer’s face. Couple all this with the fact that the holes would play moderate to long even if they were on level ground, and it’s easy to see why the Wicked 6 has earned its distinction.

Feeling a bit intimidated? Here’s the Pro Tip: choose the appropriate tees at the beginning of the round to bring these six brutes under control at the end of the round.

The 13th hole kicks off the Wicked 6 with a tee shot that must find a landing area that slopes from a high point on the right to a low-lying desert wash that runs along the left side of the wide fairway. The second shot is straight away with a lake located to the right. The elevated green is not normally reachable in two, and the approach to the green is decidedly uphill.

The 14th is one of those holes that accepts nothing less than a good shot. Unlike its wicked kin, this hole plays significantly downhill from terraced tee boxes carved into the side of the canyon wall to a green flanked along its entire right side by a lake. It’s a white-knuckle tee shot for sure.

No. 15 is an uphill brute of a par 4. A series of bunkers along the left side of the fairway must be avoided. The approach offers plenty of room to the right of the green for those who choose to shy away from the trouble to the left, but the up-and-down from there can be difficult.

13th Hole

14th Hole

15th Hole

The final 3

No. 16 is the second par 5 of the Wicked 6, the tee shot must find a landing area that slopes gently from right to left. The second shot plays in between two rocky ridges that pinch in from the sides, and over a desert arroyo that cuts across the fairway to a landing area on the other side. From there, the third shot plays appreciably uphill to an elevated punch bowl green. An extra club is recommended to ensure enough carry to reach the putting surface.

An interesting par 3 to say the least, the 17th was designed to play from two separate teeing grounds which are alternated from day to day. The “long” set of tees to the left requires a shot over desert to a midsized putting surface on the left side of the dual green. From this angle, the bunker is to the right. The tee shot from the “short” set of elevated tees calls for an iron to a smallish area of the green to the right. From this angle the bunker is on the left.

The dogleg-left No. 18 finishing hole plays uphill to a landing area guarded by deep bunkers to the left which must be avoided. This sets up a clear shot to the dramatically elevated green complex. An extra club or two is suggested to get it up to the putting surface.